Barack Obama once said it was a "scandal" that then-President George W. Bush didn't force renewal of a federal assault weapons ban. Now it's Obama himself who's steering clear of that and other politically sensitive gun-control measures, even while calling for a new discussion on weapons and "how we can keep America safe for all our people."

Two months after the shooting of a U.S. congresswoman, President Barack Obama called Sunday for more stringent enforcement of existing gun laws, citing the "awful consequences" of gun violence in American society.

The vote on the firearms omnibus bill was contentious in the Senate, but some of the measure’s backers are saying it will face a tougher fight in the House — if only because it could possibly be thwarted on the very first step.

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords plans to attend the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour next month to see off her astronaut husband, a person close to the family told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage that critically injured U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges accusing him of killing six people and wounding 13 others.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been showing emotion, good memory skills and an impressive grasp of everything from legislative business to song lyrics as she recovers in a Houston hospital from a gunshot wound to the head.